Thursday 24 April 2014

Angel, "The Prodigal" Review (1x15)

Brief Synopsis: “Usually docile demons are breaking into violent rages and innocent humans are paying the price. The realisation that Kate’s father is somehow involved in all of this brings up a lot of painful memories about Angel’s own father.”


"I've Got You Under My Skin" (1x14) quick link here                                                                                                    "The Ring" (1x16) quick link here



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With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?



The plot of “The Prodigal” is a very simple one in essence. It explores the relationship between a father and his child, and how the child is always seeking the approval and love of their father. The way in which this is explored is what makes this episode good. Not great, but good. The reason why it’s not great or reaching the upper echelon of ‘final scores’ is because the plot of the episode outside of the interesting character development and parallels between Angel and Kate is, frankly, weak. The parcels and the lame monster-of-the-week do nothing to help this episode. It feels like Trevor’s death and the villain of the episode are there for no other reason than to serve the exploration of a father’s relationship with his child. While most episodes do things to further the primary theme, they usually feel like they would stand alone by themselves at the same time, whereas “The Prodigal” comes across as forced. It’s one of those weird episodes where I love the character development, flashbacks, and interesting parallels, but I dislike the story of the episode that accompanies it. With that being said, “The Prodigal” still has a lot to offer in relation to the characters of Angel and Kate. It explores what Liam’s (Angel’s name before he was turned into a vampire) relationship with his father was like before he was sired by Darla. In comparison, it also explores Kate’s awkward-as-ever relationship with her father, Trevor. We’ve seen snippets of Kate’s relationship with her father earlier in the season, when Trevor was retiring from the police force (“Sense & Sensitivity”). It was clear even then that Kate was desperate for her father’s love, approval, and attention, but she was receiving none of those things. These two characters (Angel and Kate) are fundamentally so different and have a fascinating love-hate relationship, yet there’s no denying that they have a lot in common.

The episode opens in Galway, Ireland in 1753, around 45 minutes from where my grandfather grew up. I will admit, I’m a sucker for flashback scenes, especially in relation to the ‘fanged four’ (Angel, Spike, Darla, and Drusilla). It’s clear by the opening scene that Liam and his father have a very strained, turbulent relationship. His father strikes him and tells him that he’s ashamed of him because he’s a lazy, womanising, lay-about. Why does every character in the Buffyverse except Fred have shitty parents or at least one shitty parent? SERIOUSLY! Buffy’s father sucks, Xander’s parents are arguing alcoholics and he sleeps outside on Christmas Eve to avoid their drunken fights, Willow’s mother barely notices she exists, Wesley’s parents used to lock him under the stairs (see “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” for details about how Wesley might be Harry Potter from the future), Angel’s father was ashamed of him, Faith’s mother was an abusive alcoholic, Tara’s father pretended she was part demon to control her...the list goes on and on. Until Fred’s parents came along in “Angel” season three, I was starting to think that every character was doomed. Also, Liam and his father have two entirely different Irish accents so the continuity seems sketchy at best. By this point, I’ve ran out of jokes about David’s attempt at an Irish accent, so I’m going to move on...

The episode flashes to present day Los Angeles, where we find Kate and Angel being rather more cordial to each other than they were the last time they had a long conversation. After finding out that Angel is a vampire in “Somnambulist”, Kate seemed to despise Angel and wanted nothing more to do with him. I guess she needed time to adjust to the fact that vampires are real and that Angel is a vampire with a soul, which is understandable. Of course, in hindsight, Kate and Angel are friendly towards each other here to make the end of this episode all the more tragic. Curse you, Minear!



The next flashback we’re treated to is when Darla first sees Liam. Darla and Angel’s relationship becomes one of the focal points for the next two seasons and it’s easily one of the most complex, intriguing, interesting relationships that the show ever produces. They have hundreds of years of history together, which we get to explore through flashbacks and conversations between the two over the next five years. The decision to have Angel be a drunken, lazy, womaniser before he was sired was a stupendous addition because it gives us some key information about him and about vampires in general. After being turned into a vampire, the first thing Angelus wanted to do was kill his entire family. What this tells me is that vampires keep some semblance of themselves after they’re turned. It’s very important for Angelus to talk down to his father and to defend his actions in mortal life before he kills him. He’s still seeking his father’s approval even though he’s now soulless. He’s felt like a disappointment to his father his entire life and he’s craving some acceptance before he kills him. Sadly, his father is disappointed in him. He says as much! The interesting thing is that his father isn’t a bad man; he’s just disappointed and ashamed of the choices his son has made. He expects better of Liam because he knows that Liam is capable of greatness, which is kind of heartbreaking when you realise that he was correct. Both Angelus and Angel did remarkable things. Angelus was the most notorious vampire in history and Angel is saving countless lives and helping the helpless. If you need proof that Liam’s father loved him, go and watch the scene where he says “I was never in your way, boy”. The emotion is written all over his face.

Showing Angel’s relationship with his father also gives us Angel and Angelus’ motivations. It was important for Angelus to not only kill his family, but to leave his father until last. To watch his father grieving and falling apart before he took his life. One last act of vengeance against him before he leaves his former life behind him (or tries). After that, Angelus was vicious and brutal to try to prove to his sire, lover, and in a lot of ways his mother, that he was capable of excelling at something. While his biological father never approved of him, his new sire did. She encouraged him to be ruthless, so in turn he took it to the extreme. When Angelus rose from his grave (and the gorgeous musical score that plays over it), he rose a new person, but with the same insecurities deep down. In comparison, Angel wasted his mortal life by drinking and whoring his way through it, so he’s desperate to make something of his immortal life after he’s re-ensoulled. Is a part of it to try to prove to his father that he was capable of being more than a ‘lay-about’? Almost definitely. In addition to trying to make amends and seek redemption, Angel is also still seeking his father’s approval. From a psychology standpoint it’s absolutely fascinating. I guess Darla sums it up best...

Darla: “Your victory over him took but moments.”
Angel: “Yes.”
Darla: “But his defeat of you will last lifetimes.”
Angel: “What are you talking about? He can’t defeat me now.”
Darla: “Nor can he ever approve of you, in this world or any other.”

Angel’s father has a hold over him that can never go away. Killing his father also removed any chance that his father could approve of him. Angel’s daddy issues in this episode are an interesting parallel to Wesley’s plight in the last episode, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. I think the fact that they’re both fighting not only to help people, but to seek approval from their fathers that they’ll never receive, is a big part of the reason why they become such close friends. Also, it appears that Liam was 26 years old when he was sired by Darla. So much for vampires not ageing, huh? He looks older than 26 by the time “Angel” comes to an end. Clearly all those battles and fights over the years have aged his skin a little...

Due to Angel’s empathy with Kate over her relationship with her father, Angel tries to help Trevor. Trevor is working alongside some demons in order to earn some money and provide a better future for his daughter. It’s clear that Trevor cares about his daughter, he just has no idea how to show her this. Since his wife died, he shut down emotionally (as Kate tells him in “Sense & Sensitivity). He became unable to show affection or love to anyone around him, including his daughter. Kate and Liam’s fathers are similar in that they both love their children, but have no idea how to express this. Instead, they say nothing, leaving their children feeling unappreciated and unloved. I can relate to this more than I can put into words. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve spent my entire life trying to get my father’s approval and attention and I’ve never received either of them.

Henri Lubatti, who plays the main vampire henchman, went on to star in “The OC”, “24”, “Dark Angel”, “Chuck”, “Supernatural”, “Grimm”, “True Blood”, and many more shows! That’s one hell of a résumé! I was beyond shocked when the vampire henchmen murdered Kate’s father in front of Angel. His death was similar to Cordelia’s death in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” season three’s “The Wish” in a lot of ways. I didn’t see his death coming at all. Angel doesn’t fail at saving people...not since the pilot episode, “City Of”, at least. He always swoops in and saves people, especially when they’re the father of an important recurring character! Trevor’s death is the final nail in the coffin (thank you, thank you) of Angel and Kate’s friendship. Kate blames Angel for her father’s death. It’s not fair as it’s not Angel’s fault at all, but it’s completely understandable. Not only is Kate grieving, but Angel introduced Kate to the supernatural world. He was the one who showed her that vampires are real. She feels as though he brought this world onto her doorstep and now her father has been murdered in that world. I can understand her rage and hatred towards Angel. In her rage, Kate manages to kill her second vampire in the past five episodes. It took Cordy three years to kill her first vampire and now Kate has killed two in about a month. Classification: badass.



In addition to the primary story of the episode, it does hold a few interesting moments for Cordelia and Wesley as well...

Cordelia is happily sawing a demon apart. Look how much our Cordy has grown since leaving Sunnydale! Historically speaking, Cordelia had maids that would do everything for her. She wouldn’t even handle trash, let alone cut a demon apart with a smile on her face! That’s growth, people! Speaking of dissection, I wonder if the Watcher’s Council taught Wesley dissection and advanced biology. He seems to be far too good at it. Perhaps he was a serial killer in England before becoming a Watcher. What’s that? The Watcher’s Council wouldn’t hire an unstable psychopath? May I remind you of Gwendolyn Post, an unstable, psychopathic former-Watcher.

The new alarm system that Cordelia installed works well. It told them a door was open after a demon had already started attacking her and Wesley. What an impressive piece of technology.

Wesley: “Fools rush in.”
Cordelia: “No, he wants you to stay here.”

Someone needs to give Wesley some E-45 cream for all that buuuuuuuurn.


Quote Of The Episode

Angel: “The evil thing...turns out it wasn’t an evil thing.”

Kate: “The evil thing wasn’t an evil thing?”

Angel: “Well, it was an evil thing in terms of that word, it just wasn’t an evil, evil thing.”

Kate: “There are not evil, evil things?”

Angel: “Well, yeah.”


FINAL SCORE: 6.5/10


What are your thoughts on "The Prodigal"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

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3 comments:

  1. Yes, by the standards of his time, and given how decent the little girl is, the father seems to be the decent one in this parent-child dyad. And, by the standards of any time, having a grown son like Liam would drive any parent to "pounding the table and yelling."
    I imagien killing the human family is a standard rite of passage for soem vamps. And other choose to stay well away form their former relatives. And some *coughikecough* find and explore any of a variety of third ways.
    D'C'A'.

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  2. First of all, yay, Darla!!!! This episode was when Kate, to me, went to annoying to übber bitch, seriously I can't stand her character. It's always nice to see Angel's past, except for the terrible wig and attempt to irish accent. It's kind of sad how shitty his relation with his father was, especially when you already know that Angel will also have daddy issues with Connor. I was surprise that Liam, actually, seems to love her little sister.I was also surprised he was 26 when he died because the age gap betwwen he and Buffy is huge. I thought Angel was supossed to be 21, 22 when he was in BtVS, still a big age diference, though.
    "So much for vampires not ageing, huh? He looks older than 26 by the time “Angel” comes to an end." OMG, Boreanaz aged and put on so much in the last season. I always believe DB looked his WORST in Angel. He looked gorgeus in Buffy, he looks great in Bones, actually in the first seasons looked so much younger and fitter than he ever did in Angel.
    Anyway, great review, sir. I'm looking forward for your Five by Five review!!!

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